126 - A SEATED STONE GANESHA, ANGKOR WAT PERIOD, KHMER EMPIRE, 12TH CENTURY

A SEATED STONE GANESHA, ANGKOR WAT PERIOD, KHMER EMPIRE, 12TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 50 cm Wide 30 cm Depth 22 cm Weight: 36 Kilograms The sandstone sculpture depicts Ganesha seated in padmasana upon a square pedestal, his elephant head crowned by an ornate diadem and his ample body adorned with armlets, necklaces, and a sacred thread. He is shown with two arms resting upon his knees, a simplified but powerful rendering of the deity. His trunk, slightly cracked yet intact, extends downward in front of his body. Ganesha, remover of obstacles and patron of learning, was widely venerated in the Khmer Empire, where his cult held great importance alongside both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and images of him were often placed at temple entrances as protective guardians. The surface of the stone is worn and softened from centuries of age, with minor abrasions to the arms and body, yet the figure retains a strong presence marked by balance and monumentality. The reddish sandstone has developed an earthy patina with encrustations in recessed areas, testifying to its long history of exposure and devotion.